Aavoor Pasupatheeswaram, Kumbakonam
Aavoor Pasupatheeswaram or Aavoor
Pasupatheeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Hindu god Shiva, located in the village Aavoor, located 12 km
south of South Indian town, Kumbakonam, Tamil
Nadu. It is located south west of Kumbakonam on the
Melattur/Thittai Highway. The temple is one of the 70 madakoil built
by 2nd century Chola king, Kochengat
Chola. The temple is known for
the Panchabairavar, the five images of Bhairavar. The temple is revered in the
verses of Tevaram, the 7th century Tamil Saiva canon by Thirugnana
Sambandar. This is the 21st sthalam
on the southern side of river Cauvery.
Legends
Pasupatheeswarar indicates God of cows. Shiva is
believed to have descended for the holy cow Kamadenu that prayed to him by ablution with their milk on
the Shivalingam to get relief from the curse of sage Vashista. A sculpture indicating the legend is present in the
walls of the second precinct of the temple.
Another legend associates the temple with the Saivite
saint Tirumular (6th century CE). Tirumular saw a herd of
cows lamenting the death of their herdsmen. Being a Siddha, he entered into the body of dead herdsman, came back
alive to serve as the herdsman and sung 3000 verses in praise of Shiva. The
legend is closely associated with Gomukteeswarar temple at Tiruvadurai, but is
also associated with other temples like Thenupuriswarar Temple at Patteeswaram and Tirukogarnam near Pudukkottai.
Another Legend, Mother Parvathi came to earth, chose
this place to perform penance. The Devas – belonging to the
celestial world - also came here in the form of plants and trees to worship the
Goddess. The place was a jungle then. Pleased with her
penance, Lord Shiva appeared before the Goddess with his Jadamudi – long hair
rolled as a crown on the head. He therefore also bears the name
Kavardesswarar. Patti, the calf of the divine cow Kamadenu was wise
enough to know the glory of the place, made a Linga, performed abishek with its
milk and prayed to Lord Shiva to stay in this place. As the Lord was
worshipped by a Pasu (cow), he was named Pasupatheeswarar.
Manikudam and Aswathavanam are the other names of the
place. Of the two stones brought by Vayudeva in a competition with
Adisesha, one is here while the other is at Nallur, according to scriptures. The
presiding deity is a Swayambu Linga.
King Dasaratha came here and finding only the idol of
Lord Shiva, he installed the idol of Pankaja Valli and performed pooja invoking
the blessings of both. On the Eastern wall opposite the Pankaja Valli Sannidhi,
one finds the sculpture of King Dasaratha offering his prayers to Lord Shiva.
An invisible voice indicated to him the location of ‘Pancha Bairava’ idols
hidden beneath. Dasaratha located these unique idols and installed the idols of
Pancha Bairava opposite the Pankaja Valli Sannidhi. This is a Parikara Sthalam
for Pithru Dosham and Drishti Dosham. It is believed one would be liberated
from these after offering sincere prayers to the Pancha Bairava.
Seeking a handsome boy, King Dasaratha invoked the
blessings of Lord Muruga at this temple. It is believed that Rama was born
subsequent to the prayers offered by Dasaratha here. Hence in memory of this
event, Lord Subramanya is seen in a unique posture with a bow and arrow in
hand.
The Name
Since Kamadhenu performed pooja for Lord Shiva at this
temple and he provided darshan to the sacred cow, he came to be referred to as
‘Pasupatheeswarar’.
Temple Speciality
Presiding deity Lord Pasupatheeswarar is Swayambu in
Linga form. There are five Bhairavars in standing form worshipping Lord Shiva.
Hence the place is called Pancha Bhairava Thalam. Lord Muruga in the temple
graces with a bow in hand. The place was under the rule of Chola kings in the
second century. The name of the Lord is mentioned in the epigraphy.
On each of the four Sundays of Karthigai, Lord
Pasupatheeswarar goes out on a street procession and Theerthavari is performed.
Lord goes out on a street procession on Thei Pirai
(immediately after the full moon day) on the Ashtami day every month with
Homam, Abhishekam and Anna Dhanam being a special feature on that day.
This is one of the 70 Mada Temples built by Ko Chenganan
Chozhan and one finds steep steps leading up to the Sannidhi of Lord Shiva
making it difficult for elephant to make an entry here. Another of the Mada
Koil at Thiru Nallur is just 6kms north of here.
Greatness of Temple
Avur is the name of the
place. Pasupatheeswaram is the name of the temple. This
is a Madakoil type. The place is also known as Aswathavanam. As the
roof of the sanctum sanctorum has a beautiful hill peak, the place is also
called Manikudam. According to tradition, Vayu Deva (authority for wind)
brought two hill pieces from Kailash of which one stayed here while the other
at Nallur.
Lord Brahmma, seven sages (Saptha rishis), Ganas
(attendants of Lord Shiva), Devas, Iyakkas, Gandharvas (all belonging to the
celestial world), Indira the King of Devas, Sun, the nine planets (Navagrahas),
Lord Vishnu, Emperor Dasaratha worshipped Lord Shiva in this shrine and got
blessed.
A king, Darmadhwaja by name had a dip in the holy spring
Brahmma theertham and was cured of his leprosy. Lord Muruga graces
in the temple with a bow in his hand.
Avur is the birth place of eminent Tamil poets as Avurkizhar,
Avur Moolankizhar and Perunthalai Chathanar. The celebrated Tamil
Epic Manimekalai forming part of the five ancient Tamil epics, praised as
Aimperum Kappiangal, was authored by Chathanar.
Maadakovil
Kochengata Chola was a Chola king and was one of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints)
of Saivism. He is believed to have attained spiritual rebirth of a spider
that fought with an elephant in its previous birth over the worship of the
Hindu god Shiva. He had red eyes during birth as he remained in his mother’s
womb a little longer. His mother, looking into the babies red eyes said
Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king, cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which literally
means king with red eyes and hence he was named Kochengat Cholan.
After
becoming a king, he followed Saivism and built 70 Maadakovils, temples
with elevated structure where elephants cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola Empire. The
temple has an inscription (181 of 1911) dating from the 3rd year of the rule
of Rajendra Chola III (1246-1279 CE) indicating grants of land to the
temple.
The Temple
The temple is located 10 km away from Kumbakonam,
6 km east of Thirukarugavur and 30 km south of Thanjavur. The temple
has a five tiered Rajagopuram with an elevated structure for the main shrine.
The images of the presiding deity, Pasupatheeswarar in the form of Shiva
lingam occupies the main
sanctum. The consort of Pasupatheeswarar, Mangalanayagi and Pangajavalli occupy
twin sanctums facing west.
The images of Panchabairavar, the five Bairavar
statues are found in the corner facing the main sanctum. The second prakaram downstairs has a separate shrine for the Hindu
god Murugan in the form Dhanush Subramaniyar. Muruga sports
a dhanush (bow) instead of his regular weapon, the vel. The temple has a small tank called Braham Thirtham
located outside the main entrance.
Seeking a handsome boy, King Dasaratha invoked the
blessings of Lord Muruga at this temple.
It is believed that Rama was born subsequent to the
prayers offered by Dasaratha here. Hence in memory of this event, Lord
Subramanya is seen in a unique posture with a bow and arrow in hand.
Names of
God: Sri Pasupatheeswarar, Sri Asvathanathar, Sri
Aaavoorudayar
Name of Goddess: Sri Mangalambikai (Taken from temple tank), Sri Pangajavalli
(Old)
Holy
water (Theertham): Kamadenu theertham
is now called as Thena theertham
Sacred
Tree (Sthala Vriksham): Peepal Tree
Important Features
·
It is considered as one of
275 Paadal Petra Stalams.
·
Pancha Bairava Sannidhi is
a specialty at the temple.
·
Parikara Sthalam for
Pithru and Drishti Dosham.
·
Lord Muruga with a bow and
arrow.
·
Kamadhenu relieved from
sabam by this temple Lord Shiva.
· There is a separate Sannadhi
for Somaskandar in which there is no Moorthy.
·
There are two Ambigai Sannadhi.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00
p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Festivals
On each of the four Sundays of Karthigai, Lord
Pasupatheeswarar goes out on a street procession and Theerthavari is performed.
Lord goes out on a street procession on Thei Pirai
(immediately after the full moon day) on the Ashtami day every month with
Homam, Abhishekam and Anna Dhanam being a special feature on that day.
Brahmotsavam:
In centuries gone by, Brahmotsavam was celebrated in a
grand manner with Lord Shiva going out on street processions in majestic Vahanas
each day. However most of the Vahanas have been damaged and only the Rishaba,
Horse and Peacock Vahana are in shape currently. But similar to the Thiru
Nallur temple, Brahmotsavam here too has not taken place for over half a
century and the festivals that were once the pride of this temple, have lost
its grandeur.
While this is a HR & CE managed temple, there is
just one priest to take care of the entire temple. Mahalingam Gurukkal, who
hails from Mannargudi, has been here for over three decades taking care of the
pooja, almost on his own.
Some of the major festivals celebrated here;
·
Shivarathri in Vaikasi
(May-June),
·
Annabishekam in Iyppasi
(October-November)
·
Tiruvadhirai in Margazhi
(December-January).
Singers
The place is praised in Thevaram hymns of
Gnanasambandar: “Let my tongue ever sing the glory of the Lord of Avur
Pasupatheeswaram, known for its fertile plantain fields entertaining the
monkeys living around, wearing the sacred ash, standing majestically with his
long hair, acknowledging the worship of Lord Vishnu and ever present in the
minds of devotees.” This is the 21st temple on the southern banks of
Cauvery, praised in Thevaram hymns.
Sambandhar’s
Praise:
In each of his praise, Thiru Gnana Sambandhar refers to
this place as ‘Avoor Pasupatheeswaram’. He also showers verses of praise on
Pankaja Valli. He refers to the palace like mansions that were seen in the Mada
Streets of Pasupatheeswaram. Sambandhar talks about the sacred cows that were
always seen at the temple here.
Literary Mention
The temple is revered in the verses of Tevaram, the 7th century Saivite canonical work by the three saint poets
namely, Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. The temple is revered by Sambandar in the first Thirumurai in eleven verses. He refers to the temple as
Avoor Pasupatheeswaram.
"புண்ணியர் பூதியர் பூதநாதர் புடைபடு வாà®°்தம் மனத்தாà®°்திà®™்கட்
கண்ணிய à®°ென்à®±ென்à®±ு காதலாளர் கைதொà®´ு தேத்த விà®°ுந்தவூà®°ாà®®்
விண்ணுயர் à®®ாளிகை à®®ாடவீதி விà®°ைகமழ் சோலை சுலாவியெà®™்குà®®்
பண்ணியல் பாடல à®±ாதவாவூà®°்ப் பசுபதி யீச்சரம் பாடுநாவே."
Translating to
“This is
the place where the blessed devotees of Shiva
Who are
rich and where Shiva has raised in the temple in such a place called Avoor
Pasupatheeswaram.
The
place is surrounded by beautiful gardens, palaces and where Shiva's name is
frequently uttered.
Let my
tongue praise Avoor Pasupatheeswaram".
Prayers
People pray here for removal of obstacles in marriage
alliances and progress in educational qualifications. Blessed by the Lord
responding to their prayers, devotees perform abishek and offer Vastras
(clothing) and also do feeding (Annadhanam).
Contact
Sri Pasupatheeswarar Temple,
Avur Post, Via Kumbakonam, Valangaiman Taluk,
Thanjavur district – 612 701
Phone: +91 94863 03484
Connectivity
The temple 12 km from Kumbakonam can be reached via
Patteeswaram. Bus facility is available from Kumbakonam. Nearest Railway
Station is Kumbakonam & Thanjavur. Nearest Airport is located in Trichy.
This Shivasthalam temple is located 8 Kms to the
south-west of Patteeswaram, another Paadal Petra Sthalam. Avoor is situated on the
Kumbakonam - Melattur - Thanjavur road. Nearest railway station is Dharasuram.
Buses / Mini Buses ply every 15 minutes from Kumbakonam
bus stand and Patteeswaram to Avoor via Govindakudy (Bus Numbers:
52/67/11/72/25/8). Direct buses (484 and 48) are also available from Thanjavur
via Thiru Karugavur. One can also reach the temple from Papanasam (9kms) and
Sundara Perumal Koil (5kms).
Auto from Patteeswaram Durgai Temple will cost Rs. 100.
References
https://veludharan.blogspot.com/2012/07/paadal-petra-shiva-sthalangal-in-around.html
